BLACKSBURG – After 75 minutes of scoreless action, Karlie Johnson found the back of the net with her first goal of the year and the Virginia Tech women's soccer team added a late insurance goal as the Hokies downed No. 14 Pittsburgh 2-0 on Sunday afternoon in ACC action at Thompson Field.
For the Hokies, the victory is their first of the season as they improve to 1-5 overall (all versus ranked opponents) and got a much-needed three points in the ACC standings, sitting at 1-3 in the ACC. Pitt entered the week ranked and unbeaten at 6-0, but are now 6-2 and 1-2 in league play.
The Panthers actually outshot the Hokies in the first half by a 10-1 count, forcing Tech goalkeeper Alia Skinner to make seven saves before the break. In all, Skinner stopped a season-high 12 shots and was able to register the first shutout of her career.
The first goal of the game was set up by Tori Powell in the 76th minute, as she tried to connect with Emily Gray on a through ball, but it was a little too far ahead. Gray challenged Pitt defender Hailey Davidson for the possession, stole the ball, then poked a short pass to Karlie Johnson whose left-footed strike beat Katherine Robinson for the eventual game winner.
For Johnson, it was her first goal of the year and the seventh of her Tech career, but the first since Oct. 18, 2018 – the game winner versus Notre Dame. She now has four career game-winning goals. Gray tallied her first assist of 2020 and the ninth of her Hokies career.
Pitt didn't go away quietly, attempting five shots after the Tech goal and two corner kicks, but Skinner stopped everything that came her way.
However, in the 89th minute, Emmalee McCarter knocked in an attempted clear from Robinson back toward the Pitt goal. Powell settled it just outside the box, turned and fired a shot over an outstretched hand of Robinson for her first collegiate goal and all put putting the game away. It was McCarter's sixth career assist.
Additional Notes
- Tech defeats its first ranked opponent since Nov. 9, 2018 – at No. 17 Texas (1-0).
- The Hokies improve to 6-0-1 all-time versus Pitt, including a perfect 3-0-0 at home.
- McCarter has started the last 45 straight matches for the Hokies, the longest active streak on the team.
- Grace Sklopan is Tech's lone Hokie to play every single minute of the 2020 season (544 straight minutes). She has actually played every minute of the past 18 matches (1,663 straight minutes), last leaving a game on Sept. 13, 2019 – vs. College of Charleston.
- Making her first career start for Tech was Erin Carleton.
- Skinner now has 43 saves this season, the most for any goalkeeper six matches into the season. The previous high was Mallory Soldner's 35 during the 2003 season.
- Since a 2-0 loss at No. 17 Duke on Oct. 2, 2018, Tech is 17-1-2 versus teams not named Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina and Virginia.
Coach's Comments
Postgame comments from Tech's @CoachChugger pic.twitter.com/QJ5pWK5wA3
— Virginia Tech Women's Soccer (@HokiesWSoccer) October 4, 2020
Powell postgame
After scoring her first collegiate goal, @TorPowell talks about the win and the insurance goal. #Hokies🦃⚽️ pic.twitter.com/gMbgxrfhJe
— Virginia Tech Women's Soccer (@HokiesWSoccer) October 4, 2020
Up Next
The Hokies head out on the road for their next match, a non-conference contest at No. 11 Duke on Friday night at 7 p.m.Gallery: (10-4-2020) 2020 WOMEN's SOCCER vs. PITT